Was wondering if people could comment on these Peds Residency programs?

[Rumalum]

Hey, I'm currently an M4 and looking towards my interview season. I was wondering if anyone has experienced these programs and has any input? In addition to the big pros/cons that stand out to you, I'd be interested in hearing about some small things including the size of team rooms, availability of parking, amount of traffic in the city, and an average cost for a 1Br apartment

Here's a list I am thinking of applying, in no particular order:

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
University of Vermont
Maine Medical Center
Rush University
Oregon
Brown
VCU
Vanderbilt
Stanford
Northwestern
Cleveland Clinic
Massachusetts General and/or Boston Children's
University of Washington
University of Colorado

edit:

Utah
san diego
dartmouth
university of minnesota
yale


Thank you!

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[alohakaoha]

I did an away at Maine Medical Center last year and what I got from it was this:
Small Program (6 categorical peds + 4 med/peds)
Children's Hospital is actually 1 floor + PICU
Attendings were very nice, loved to teach and very welcoming.
I didn't have a resident on my service but for whatever reason, I personally just didn't feel like I fit in with them.
Their didactics, IMO, were just OK.

Portland itself is a great city, lots of outdoor stuff to do on top of being a great beer and food town. I loved Portland, just not this program.

 

[mvenus929]

Just out of curiosity, why VCU and not the other Peds programs in Virginia? Personally, of the three VA programs I applied to, VCU was the one I liked the least. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with the program (it is a hospital within a hospital, which is a drawback for some), but I got a really weird vibe from my interview day.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Personally, your list seems semi-random--it looks like you've got a northeast/midwest bent to your location, with a couple of "dream programs" like Stanford/Colorado/Washington, but you're missing a lot of programs that I would consider "top-tier" in your backyard. Looking back on your posting history, it appears you have a Step 1 score which should make you a VERY competitive applicant. With that in mind, I would encourage you to look strongly at programs like Cincinnati, Rainbow Babies, Nationwide, and Wash U. I think these programs stack up competitively against almost any program in the country, and I was very impressed when I interviewed there; they are also in relatively affordable cities that I think would meet your criteria for living conditions.

That being said, unless you have some skeletons in your closet, with your score I think you should consider shooting for a couple of "dream" schools in your neck of the woods too. TBH, Denver, Seattle and Palo Alto aren't really any cheaper than a place you'll find in the Northest. There's nothing wrong with some of those other smallish programs on your list, but I don't think there's anything particularly special about them either.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Rush University
Oregon
Northwestern
University of Washington

I agree with above that it seems like a bit of a rag tag group of residencies, but I'm also sure that its your list for a reason. Spurs mentions some excellent places so give them a second thought. There are so many great places out there (the big names and excellent smaller programs as well) that it's hard to come up with the finances to visit them all.

The one's that I know something about or have heard repeatedly about are the above
1) Rush - decent residency in Chicago, not stand-alone children's hospital - wonder why Rush is on your list and NW but not University of Chicago? If I was to consider the two best programs in Chicago (I interviewed at all in the city) I would probably rank Northwestern and Univ Chicago at the top.

2) Oregon - seemed like a great place to train in a beautiful campus in a beautiful city and state. Definitely smaller than the big dog in the Northwest Seattle; appeared very family friendly and the residents seemed very close

3) Northwestern - the powerhouse in Chicago, brand-new gigantic hospital, huge residency, repeatedly ranks highly in the fairly useless US News Rankings (if that's important to you). People seemed very driven, more research oriented than other programs in Chicago. I would interview here and at University of Chicago if I had to pick two Chicago programs - chances are you will love one or the other depending on your personality and whats important to you in a residency program

4) Seattle - didn't interview here (sadly) but got to come back for fellowship interview and have heard nothing but good things about this place. Increasingly a dominant player on the west coast in several sub-specialities.

Good Luck and have fun!

 

[Rumalum]

Just out of curiosity, why VCU and not the other Peds programs in Virginia? Personally, of the three VA programs I applied to, VCU was the one I liked the least. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with the program (it is a hospital within a hospital, which is a drawback for some), but I got a really weird vibe from my interview day.

I am a creature of habit and like 90% of the attendings. Really that is the only thing that would keep me in virginia as the summer's are far too hot. In fact, it's sweltering right now and it's not even technically summer

With that in mind, I would encourage you to look strongly at programs like Cincinnati, Rainbow Babies, Nationwide, and Wash U. I think these programs stack up competitively against almost any program in the country, and I was very impressed when I interviewed there; they are also in relatively affordable cities that I think would meet your criteria for living conditions.

You suggested three hospitals in Ohio...unless there's something I'm missing, I don't see myself living in Ohio (except I have to give a shout out to Cleveland Clinic since I love Heme/Onc). Although Wash U is a place I'm currently debating

1) Rush - decent residency in Chicago, not stand-alone children's hospital - wonder why Rush is on your list and NW but not University of Chicago? If I was to consider the two best programs in Chicago (I interviewed at all in the city) I would probably rank Northwestern and Univ Chicago at the top.

Like you said, rankings are fairly useless since what residents do and what the hospital's employees do are completely different. I grew up in the south side of chicago, not sure if I would want to return, although Hyde Park is becoming a more bustling place now

 

[GoSpursGo]

You suggested three hospitals in Ohio...unless there's something I'm missing, I don't see myself living in Ohio (except I have to give a shout out to Cleveland Clinic since I love Heme/Onc). Although Wash U is a place I'm currently debating

I hear what you're saying about Ohio. FWIW, if you're willing to go to Ohio to take a look at Cleveland Clinic, I still would take a close look at Cinci and Nationwide, as my impression was that both of those hospitals' heme/onc programs were stronger than Cleveland Clinic.

 

[WhatAmIDoinHere]

Rumalan,
It's interesting you asked about VCU when you go there. Besides loving the attendings, what are your thoughts on vcu peds program? I'm interested in mid-Atlantic/southeast so VCU is my list.
I also know an MS4 at VCU, he didn't have great things to say about the peds program (used the word "malignant") but he was not able to elaborate further. He is going into psych, so I don't take his opinion to seriously.

RVA is Hella hot in the summer! But it's otherwise tolerable 9 months of the year like mid-September through May.

 

[Rumalum]

Rumalan,
It's interesting you asked about VCU when you go there. Besides loving the attendings, what are your thoughts on vcu peds program? I'm interested in mid-Atlantic/southeast so VCU is my list.
I also know an MS4 at VCU, he didn't have great things to say about the peds program (used the word "malignant") but he was not able to elaborate further. He is going into psych, so I don't take his opinion to seriously.

RVA is Hella hot in the summer! But it's otherwise tolerable 9 months of the year like mid-September through May.

My experience has been the opposite really. All the interesting pathology comes here (for instance, I had a mitochondrial disorder patient in the PICU); all the specialists are dedicated to teaching, especially the pulm, kidney, and ID people; i've seen the residents get a good deal of autonomy; the support staff (dieticians, SOCIAL WORKERS, etc) are really good. One thing I don't like, and this is something I have seen from other program websites, is they do a 8am case conference most days. **** that's so annoying in the middle of prerounds. They are finishing up a brand new outpatient peds building that consolidates all the clinics and includes its own procedure area and cuts down on all the driving around. The resident on call room has a gym, they get meal funds on their card, but I don't know what other perks they get

 

[mvenus929]

Tne thing I don't like, and this is something I have seen from other program websites, is they do a 8am case conference most days. **** that's so annoying in the middle of prerounds.

(Not directed specifically at you, just in general...) You are going to be very hard pressed to find a program that does not routinely do a morning conference of some sort. I'm pretty sure every single program I went to has one most days of the week. In general, you are expected to have finished your prerounding by conference time, since rounds generally start shortly after the conference ends.

 

[Stitch]

(Not directed specifically at you, just in general...) You are going to be very hard pressed to find a program that does not routinely do a morning conference of some sort. I'm pretty sure every single program I went to has one most days of the week. In general, you are expected to have finished your prerounding by conference time, since rounds generally start shortly after the conference ends.

Yes. This. You'll get more efficient as you go, but morning conference is pretty common. If you're not getting things done/patients seen beforehand, you need to come in earlier or get some tips from seniors on how to be more efficient with your time. Skipping out or just showing 'face time' is missing out on good, important education, not to mention that it gives the impression you're not really interested in pediatrics.

 

[BigRedBeta]

Northwestern - as stated the hospital is only 3 years old, so the physical plant will compete with anything else you see while on an interview day. Work flow in this beautiful space however...(if you think a 15 minute commute is a waste of time, just wait until you're stuck for 10 minutes waiting for your elevator). The resident workrooms are fine on the floors and their lounge is big enough. The hospital is just off the Red Line, so that makes a commute rather easy, and it's even closer to Michigan Ave, so there are only about 20 different bus routes that drop off within 3 blocks. Mornings are never bad, but it is in Streeterville, and getting home can be a challenge if you don't like commutes. There are certainly apartments within an 8-10 block walk that are nice and can be had on a resident salary (although a true 1 BR is easily going to be >$1300/mo - studios and convertibles would be better options), but I personally prefer to be able to get a way from the hospital to go home, that way I don't feel like I've never left work.

Rush - probably a better teaching hospital for general peds, that's simply the function of not being a quaternary/quintenary referral center like Northwestern is. You won't see the crazy weird stuff, but in truth, the crazy weird doesn't show up on the boards either. I've enjoyed everyone I've ever met that's affiliated with Rush Pediatrics.